Shaq Is the New Face of The General

In an email to its agents yesterday, The General announced that basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is the company’s new brand ambassador. They are touting it as a “return” to The General because Shaq was once insured by the company.

The announcement explains that Shaq agreed to the new partnership because as a customer he loved The General’s “affordable prices, reliable service, and established reputation.” It goes on to say that Shaq shares the insurer’s core values, and that he is a fan of The General Character.

This got us thinking … what else do The General—and its iconic mustachioed mascot—have in common?

An Unlikely Partnership Or A Match Made in Heaven?

From humble beginnings to the national stage

The General was once known as Permanent General Agency, and the company grew from its start in Nashville, Tennessee, to store locations in Louisiana, California, Florida, and more.

Shaq was born in Newark, New Jersey. He later went to high school in Texas and college in Louisiana. Throughout his celebrated basketball career, he played for Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, and Phoenix.

The long and short of it

Shaq and The General Character are iconic for their respective heights. The basketball behemoth is a jaw-dropping seven feet one inch tall.  The General, well … he’s a bit on the tiny side. In his early days, The General was so small his phone was almost his same height!

Protectors of the people

Although we’re not sure which branch of the armed services The General is from, he’s clearly a decorated hero. We can surmise that he has been recognized for helping citizens get auto insurance, so in our book, that’s pretty good.

Shaq, it may surprise you, was bona fide officer of the law. He was a reserve officer with the Louisiana Port Police and Miami Beach. He’s also an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal and honorary deputy for Bedford County, Virginia.

Animated American All-stars

The General is a recognized animated icon. His design has evolved over the years to the lovable and mighty character who marches across our computer and television screens.

Shaq is no stranger to the toon treatment, either. He’s been animated several times, appearing as himself in the Cleveland Show, The Lego Movie, and more.

It turns out these two men have more in common than we initially thought! We think that Shaquille O’Neal is a perfect fit for The General, and we congratulate Shaq on his new ambassadorship.

If you’re curious how The General, with its catchy character mascot, stacks up against its insurance competitors, don’t miss our auto insurance showdown.